looking left when tail dragging

[The500man]

I always land looking out to the left and I don't know exactly how this started. I prefer slipping to the left as well and I've noticed other pilots doing the same even in right hand circuits. It would (sort of) make sense that most circuits are left hand so a left slip would be an easier transition (as part of the final turn), and then you would already be looking out to the left, but I wonder if there may be some other reason?

If you tail drag, which side do you prefer to look out of and why do you think you do it that way?

Cheers

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

The front - looking as far as I can down the runway.

[Flyingmac]

I tend to look at the into-wind side. With no X-wind, I have a marked preference for right wing down in a slip. Tail or training wheel.

Probably down to more resistance from engine torque, hence less finesse required. Or it's something to do with orange juice.

[piperboy84]

I suppose it's a lot to do with the type and model of TD and the forward visibility each one gives in the landing config and also what the flap set up is will determine the need for slipping, my TD offers good forward visibility and has more flap setting ranges than you can shake a stick at, so my approach techniques are the same as how you would do it in any other trike spamcan, the differences start right before touchdown where in my plane I can not allow any crab or drift otherwise it's ground loop and chequebook time, where as in a trike you can pretty much land it arse for elbow and with the CG being in front of the mains it will just whip itself square.

[Maoraigh1]

Straight down the runway. When distracted to look sideways, I bounced badly and went around. (A large mobile crane pointing towards the runway moved)
PS Don't rely on that with nosewheel aircraft PB.

[Miserlou]

Well in terms of crosswinds, it should always be the into wind wing down.

All things being equal, the convention would be left hand on throttle and right hand on the stick which makes the ergonomics better for slipping to the left.
To the left with the right hand (or right with left hand) entails a pushing input rather than the more awkward outward straining pull the opposite way also requiring fingers closed around the stick.

[Pilot DAR]

All things being equal, the convention would be left hand on throttle and right hand on the stick which makes the ergonomics better for slipping to the left.

Perhaps in some types, but this is not universal. The pilot must adapt to the plane. My throttle is on the centerline ceiling, along with propeller, mixture, and carb heat, so it depends if you're sitting left or right side, as to which hand will be on the throttle.

With my right hand high on the throttle, sitting left side (normal), my right arm position makes the view to the left less obstructed, so turns to the left work out better.

I was discussing this with a learned colleague the other day, we agree that pilots look, and will allow an aircraft to drift/change heading, to the left, all other things being equal.

[Piper.Classique]

Maybe whether you are left or right handed makes a difference?

[India Four Two]

Interesting. I had never really thought about it.

When flying a towplane (Scout or Citabria or Super Cub), I almost always slip to the left, mainly because I tend to fly curved approaches in a left-hand circuit. This also gives me a better view of the runway since I'm landing on the right side of a grass runway, with the take-off grid full of gliders on the left.

I also prefer left slips in Cessnas or Pipers, because I get a better view from the left seat,

[dubbleyew eight]

in an aircraft with side by side seating the pilot sits on the left side.
so peripheral vision out the left side forms some of the input to your landing judgement, while of course looking at the far end of the runway.

here is a tip based on experience.

if you habitually land on a small strip, or a narrow strip and then you fly to a very large runway, landing on the centreline can see you not having any of the peripheral cues that you normal subconsciously use in landing. you can botch a landing badly.

land in from the left side of the large runway the same distance in that you normally land on the small runway and all your subtle peripheral vision height cues will still be there.

[Noah Zark.]

I recall reading somewhere a while ago that during WW2, Luftwaffe pilots realised that on many occasions, when they came at an RAF aircraft from behind, the RAF pilot would break to the left, and knowing this, enabled to Luftwaffe pilot to keep on the tail of the other aircraft.
Just as an aside, I came to realise that when I rode a motorcycle, alas now many years ago, I was far more relaxed flinging it into a left hand bend than a right hand bend. On the right hander, I was always more twitchy.
Likewise, doing slow maneuvers (frinstance, wheedling in and out of obstacles, cars, etc.,) I could turn or circle to the left at almost nil forward speed with ease, feet up, yet, to the right, I was always 'dabbing'!

[The500man]

Some interesting points. Usually sitting on the left, an obstructed view to the right, left/right brained, and control ergonomics weren't things I initially thought of. It's probably a case of most pilots being effected to some degree by some of those things that results in the left-looking tendency I've observed. A mixture of human factors, aircraft design, and flying practice. Interesting stuff.

Cheers.

[India Four Two]

Luftwaffe pilots realised that on many occasions, when they came at an RAF aircraft from behind, the RAF pilot would break to the left,George Moffat, world Open Class Champion in 1970 and 1974, wrote that if he was first into a thermal, he would always circle to the right, because most pilots circled to the left out of habit and therefore were less efficient when forced to thermal to the right.

[Guzzler]

I point the nose into wind with the ailerons and keep tracking towards the runway with rudder. (And point the nose down to keep airspeed sufficient for the extra drag.)

[thing]

George Moffat, world Open Class Champion in 1970 and 1974, wrote that if was first into a thermal, he would always circle to the right, because most pilots circled to the left out of habit and therefore were less efficient when forced to thermal to the right.

Indeed, I always tend to throw it to the left if the thermal is indistinct. As Miserlou says if you're right handed it's more natural to wang the stick to the left than the right. I know I do this so make myself turn to the right every other thermal, unless it's obvious which way to turn ie the wing tip moving.